ROCK ISLAND, Illinois -
Peter Pan is flying into Circa' 21 and for the first time in the theater's 32 year history the actors will fly. And it takes much more than fairy dust to make it happen.
On stage during rehearsal four actors are singing, "I'm flying, flying, flying, flying." The lead actress Brittany Church makes it look easy becoming Peter Pan as she gracefully flies singing, "I can zoom around way up off the ground. I'm flying" She's performed in many other plays before, but has never flown.
"There's only been one really bad one where I got a couple scrapes. Overall it's been fine."
In character, Peter Pan can't worry about getting hurt. He must teach Wendy, John and Michael.
"You just think lovely wonderful thoughts and up you go."
Lauren Van Speybroeck, Zach Finn and Tanner Konrardy are all actors from the Quad Cities. And have learned in a short amount of time that the magic onstage takes a lot of work behind the scenes.
Finn says, "It's not that scary and not that hard I mean the rope people are doing all the work mostly."
There are 11 rope people holding the 4 actors and they're all trained by an outside company, ZFX Inc. Brian Owens is their flying director.
"Very often is the case the choreography backstage is a lot more interesting then the choreography onstage because there are so many people involved in the backstage area."
To see how it works I got a chance to suit up.
Owens said, "I need both you guys back here please." I asked, "Someone big and strong."
But before I did my experts had plenty of advice.
Speybroeck from Rock Island said, "Always keep your shoulders back and land on one toe or else you fall on your face."
Finn from Bettendorf said, "If you get up in the air don't get freaked out because you won't fall. The people back there will hold you."
Konrardy from Davenport said, "For guys it can hurt if it's in the wrong area but not all the time." I asked, "So, I'm okay." "Yeah."
Back on stage I asked the audience, "So what did Peter Pan say think lovely thoughts?" And as I go up into the air, I add, "It works."
I'll admit I was nervous. But Church said, "You can't worry about that because you have to worry about your posture and singing a getting the words right and acting."
She's a pro, but in the air I quickly realize I'm not, "Now, I don't think I can sing too."
Back on the ground I got my own reviews.
Konrardy said, "I was like wow she's going to crash and burn when she lands but you put your foot out. I was like wow she's an amateur."
It takes a lot to get to never never land and to transport an audience there too.
Dennis Hitchcock the owner and producer of Circa'21 says, "And the flying is of course what people expect to see when they come to see Peter Pan and I think it's extremely well done."
Soon the magic will happen and you won't see the strings or the harnesses, just a little boy who never wants to grow up.
Church explains, "It's a chance to come and be a kid again in a world where there is so many adult worries with the economy as it is."
It's a reason to forget and cheer.
The show opens Friday night, but there are two preview shows on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
On stage during rehearsal four actors are singing, "I'm flying, flying, flying, flying." The lead actress Brittany Church makes it look easy becoming Peter Pan as she gracefully flies singing, "I can zoom around way up off the ground. I'm flying" She's performed in many other plays before, but has never flown.
"There's only been one really bad one where I got a couple scrapes. Overall it's been fine."
In character, Peter Pan can't worry about getting hurt. He must teach Wendy, John and Michael.
"You just think lovely wonderful thoughts and up you go."
Lauren Van Speybroeck, Zach Finn and Tanner Konrardy are all actors from the Quad Cities. And have learned in a short amount of time that the magic onstage takes a lot of work behind the scenes.
Finn says, "It's not that scary and not that hard I mean the rope people are doing all the work mostly."
There are 11 rope people holding the 4 actors and they're all trained by an outside company, ZFX Inc. Brian Owens is their flying director.
"Very often is the case the choreography backstage is a lot more interesting then the choreography onstage because there are so many people involved in the backstage area."
To see how it works I got a chance to suit up.
Owens said, "I need both you guys back here please." I asked, "Someone big and strong."
But before I did my experts had plenty of advice.
Speybroeck from Rock Island said, "Always keep your shoulders back and land on one toe or else you fall on your face."
Finn from Bettendorf said, "If you get up in the air don't get freaked out because you won't fall. The people back there will hold you."
Konrardy from Davenport said, "For guys it can hurt if it's in the wrong area but not all the time." I asked, "So, I'm okay." "Yeah."
Back on stage I asked the audience, "So what did Peter Pan say think lovely thoughts?" And as I go up into the air, I add, "It works."
I'll admit I was nervous. But Church said, "You can't worry about that because you have to worry about your posture and singing a getting the words right and acting."
She's a pro, but in the air I quickly realize I'm not, "Now, I don't think I can sing too."
Back on the ground I got my own reviews.
Konrardy said, "I was like wow she's going to crash and burn when she lands but you put your foot out. I was like wow she's an amateur."
It takes a lot to get to never never land and to transport an audience there too.
Dennis Hitchcock the owner and producer of Circa'21 says, "And the flying is of course what people expect to see when they come to see Peter Pan and I think it's extremely well done."
Soon the magic will happen and you won't see the strings or the harnesses, just a little boy who never wants to grow up.
Church explains, "It's a chance to come and be a kid again in a world where there is so many adult worries with the economy as it is."
It's a reason to forget and cheer.
The show opens Friday night, but there are two preview shows on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
